Miyamoto musings

June 12, 2009

Shigeru Miyamoto is one of the past century's most successful artists and undisputedly the games industry's most respected designer. The father of Mario and countless other much-loved gaming icons, Miyamoto's genius is stamped on every product he touches.

But just a few years ago, it seemed that Miyamoto (like his company) was becoming an anachronism in the industry he helped create.

In a rapidly changing and maturing market which was now suddenly more focused on adults rather than children, many felt Miyamoto was becoming out-of-touch. As the designer entered his 50s and Nintendo's share of the ever-growing interactive entertainment industry began to shrink, the Japanese Peter Pan was increasingly berated for refusing to grow up.

We all know how the story has turned around in recent years. Nintendo is the industry leader once again, with Miyamoto and his President Satoru Iwata orchestrating an astonishing comeback by producing incredibly novel experiences like Nintendogs, Brain Training, Wii Fit and Wii Sports, as well as clever updates of more traditional Nintendo fare like New Super Mario Bros., Mario Kart and Super Mario Galaxy. Nintendo has now sold over 50 million Wii consoles, and over 100 million DS handhelds.

Screen Play was fortunate to get a (disappointingly brief) interview with Miyamoto at the Electronic Entertainment Expo last week. Click below for some of the highlights.

(Screen Play) You said that you are working on a lot of projects at the moment. Is that your preferred way to work now, or would you like the luxury of going back to work on one project at a time?

(Shigeru Miyamoto) It's fun to do it both ways. I think the one challenge is that ultimately I am responsible for all of the titles so it's probably ideal for me to know all that there is about each title from start to finish, but it is also a great deal of fun to be working on multiple titles at once. In fact with Wii Sports Report, Wii Fit Plus and New Super Mario, we really are at a point where we are in the final stages and have got our ultimate goal and vision in mind. We're at the point where we're just finishing up with the polish. What's really difficult is when there's a lot of different projects at once and you don't know where they are leading. This really right now is a lot of fun.

(Other journalist) With things like Wii Fit and the Wii Vitality Sensor, it seems Nintendo is not just all about games anymore, but is more of a lifestyle company.

(Shigeru Miyamoto) I wouldn't say it's so much about lifestyle. I look at it as among the different things that a family would do together in the living room, what of those types of activities could be turned into some kind of video game or interactive experience. Or for example I have been thinking a lot about what if people had a DS and they carried it around town with them, what kind of benefits could they get with the DS that would make them happy. So for example with the Wii Vitality Sensor, its not a question of what can we do to measure or track different elements of the body, it's more of a question of what can a new type of interface do to create a new experience. If there was for example a way for your feelings to become some type of input rather than simply something that is being evaluated or tracked, what could be done with that to turn it into a video game? For example, if you were in an adventure game, maybe there was something where you had to tell the truth or lie (laughs) maybe it could tell if you were lying, who knows?

(Screen Play) You've announced a collaboration with Team Ninja for the next Metroid. It seems hardcore gamers are constantly demanding more content from Nintendo, should Nintendo be doing more regular outsourcing so that you can fill your release schedule?

(Shigeru Miyamoto) I think it's not really so much a question about whether we should do more outsourcing, but whether or not we can perhaps do a better job of creating opportunities for developers that are particularly talented creating that type of game to be interested in approaching us and working with us. What I think is very important though is for our internal designers to be playing an intergral role in the planning and design of the games we do. For example, in the past there was a period where we did a lot of collaboration on different titles like Star Fox or the Smash Bros series, and within that I think that what is important is for our own designers to be a key part of that and not simply outsource our titles to other people but really for us to remain a key player in the design and planning process in order to ensure it is something that meets our quality requirements. Right now we actually have what we call "second party" developers, which are development studios that develop games for us and we publish the titles. Right now we probably have in terms of development resources from second parties, it's probably about 1.5 or 2 times the development resources that we have internally right now.

(Other journalist) Is a high definition Wii something we can expect in the near future?

(Shigeru Miyamoto) Eventually at some point we will probably release a new system that takes advantage of HD technology, but when we designed the Wii and were looking at the balance of technology and how we were going to take advantage of this hardware system, one of the other things that we looked at was the actual penetration rate for HD television sets in the various markets. That was one factor that played into our ultimate decision to focus on standard definition video output for the Wii. But at some point in the future it's only going to be natural for us in a future hardware system to move into the HD area.

(Other journalist) It is something that hardcore gamers want, though.

(Shigeru Miyamoto) Yeah, but I think in essence what is more important is how fun is the game itself? As long as Nintendo continues to focus on creating experiences that feel fresh and our fun, then the hardware people will continue their work and eventually we will get into the HD era. I don't think HD is something that makes an interactive experience. Of course if you have a game and you have a HD version and you have an SD version, maybe the HD version might be more interesting. But the graphics themselves aren't going to make the game more fun, just cost more money for the developers (laughs).

(Screen Play) Just a few years ago you were often chastised for making "childish" games. Do you feel personally vindicated by Nintendo's recent success, particularly in attracting huge numbers of older players?

(Shigeru Miyamoto) I think the criticism of the things that I was creating were childish was really more of a PR strategy that other companies may have used. I don't think what I was creating was childish at all. I just make things that are very positive and bright. I think that creating something for children is different than creating something that has a bright and positive attitude.

(Other journalist) You have been able to successfully attract a lot of girls and women to gaming, was that something that you deliberately set out to do?

(Shigeru Miyamoto) We haven't looked specifically at a particular audience, what we have always been saying is that we are focused on a really broad audience and we're trying to make games that appeal to everyone. I think that is just one example of how we have been able to create experiences that appeal beyond traditional audiences that we've seen up until now.

(Other journalist) What are your thoughts on the motion controllers that Sony and Microsoft have unveiled?

(Shigeru Miyamoto) Our strategy is to make gameplay, then show the hardware. We ended up with Wii Sports taking a long time (in development). Something Nintendo does well is not only create this technology but implement it in a way that makes it really accessible. Until the technology (that Microsoft and Sony have shown) reaches that level, it's really impossible to make any judgment on it.

I don't know what the perfect approach is, but anything that gets gamers to use their whole body we are in favour of, it does nothing but expand the market for us. Taking this technology in a way that feels good and feels natural in the way that we have done with Wii Sports is something I feel very confident about.

Interfaces are something that have evolved, including buttons and scales... Some interfaces are controlled by the player, such as getting the player to touch buttons, and now getting the player to step on a board. But can you control what your pulse does? Can you control it of your own volition? I think something like that, that is hard to control, would take a lot of training.

Post a comment

Comments Terms & Conditions

When posting comments on our blogs, you agree to be bound by our terms and conditions.
Comments that are offensive, defamatory, unsuitable or that breach any aspects of the terms and conditions will be deleted.

Recent comments

xavier

June 12, 2009

08:25 AM

Another intelligent set of replies. Bah!

Off topic...
Can someone please explain why, in a recent catalogue, they are offering the Xbox with 3 games: Assasins Creed, Gears of War 2 and ...Gears of War 1??? Am I missing something? Why would I want GOW1 when I've its successor??

Symon

June 12, 2009

09:14 AM

@Xavier

GOW1 is included so players can have the full *cough* story..

OU818

June 12, 2009

10:32 AM

@ xavier

Umm because it is a good game?
Did you hear of Terminator Salvation coming out and say "Well good thing I didn't waste my time watching the 3 movies that came before this!".

Joka

June 12, 2009

10:36 AM

I liked this interview. Best Q&A was with the hardcores demanding more content from Ninty.

@ xavier
The only reason I can think of is that they need to move lots of GoW 1 stock. But yes, why buy 1 when you get 2?

death to nerds

June 12, 2009

10:46 AM

No one asking if Nintendo will go software only as their hardware business is DOOMED? Poor show.

And why no questions about how motion control is rubbish and is just a gimmick that will never go anywhere? Huh?

Mr Ak

June 12, 2009

11:33 AM

Nice enough interview, but who is the "Other journalist"?

It's Orson Welles, isn't it?

InstinctSage

June 12, 2009

12:08 PM

Personally, I thought Jason's questions were far better than asking about HD Wiis and games for women and children.

How many times do Iwata or Miyamoto have to say they're more interested in making fun games that anyone can play before people stop wondering if they're pandering to this or that market and neglecting others?

The Wii was pretty low tech. The technology wasn't where the innovation came, the application of it was. It's the same with touch screens, microphones. The way Miyamoto talks of the heart sensor, he has interesting applications for a device everyone would think had no place in gaming.

But that's Nintendo. Cheap, common technology, applied for the purpose of fun. It's little wonder they would say they're not really in competition with Sony and Microsoft, who chase the bleeding edge to varying degrees. Miyamoto is right, that's not what brings fun.

Neither way is right or wrong, but Nintendo is lateral while the others are logical. And I'm glad both styles are around. It's just a bit frustrating to see people still asking the same questions, ala the other guys are all doing THIS and now we expect it, will you?

Particularly when I'm more interested in hearing about how THEY'RE doing things.

It was particularly telling how much control they desire over their IP. It's understandable, of course, but I wonder whether there'll be friction between Ninja and Ninty through the course of development.

luverly_5pam

June 12, 2009

02:10 PM

Choose SCREEN PLAY, the new and improved product from HILL ENTERPRISES! SCREEN PLAY, containing mystery ingredient FABULON has been scientifically proven to get your WHITES WHITER, increase MILEAGE and ask more RELEVANT QUESTIONS than leading OTHER JOURNALISTS. Also 9 out of 10 HOUSEWIVES are able to distinguish the difference between SCREEN PLAY, with patented FABULON technology and a DEAD CRAB. Don't delay, choose SCREEN PLAY today

Jason Hill

June 12, 2009

02:23 PM

I wanted to make it very clear that I was NOT RESPONSIBLE for asking such stupid questions. To Miyamoto's credit though, he did provide more interesting answers than the questions warranted.

And to the "Other journalist" at the show who took up over half of my interview slot by going 15 minutes over time, thanks for nothing. Miyamoto had a meeting to go to after my interview, so my time was very disappointingly cut short...

death to nerds

June 12, 2009

02:27 PM

Too many beers at lunch time 5pam? :)

luverly_5pam

June 12, 2009

02:32 PM

lol, don't worry Jason, we all love you here!

If my handle didn't give it away, I am a huge Monty Python fan, and the second I saw 'Other Journalist' I was reminded of all the Python Faux comparison advertisements (New CRELM toothpaste!). My post is merely an homage to the Python boys, and an appreciation of the 50% of decent questions we got in the above interview.

Comiserations on your shortened interview slot.

Smoolander

June 12, 2009

02:37 PM

Imagine using the vitality sensor in an RPG where you are asked by an NPC whether you killed a certain person or not, and they can tell if you are lying depending upon your pulse rate, which then directs the next sequence.

An implementation like that would be something pretty nifty. Wearing the thing on your finger would be rather dorky and annoying.

And good questions Jason. The "Others" should be smacked over the head with a Wii Fit Board.

Jason says: You should have heard the questions that I didn't get to ask... (Screen Play goes off to sulk in the corner 956654 times)

Cannong

June 12, 2009

03:13 PM

Was Miyamoto doing a yoda impersonation in this head shot? or is it just a co-inkydink?

Anthony the Gourmet Gamer

June 12, 2009

03:41 PM

Certainly interesting answers, shame the other interviewer chocked the time with questions that have been already answer a billion times. The use of the Vitality device as a lie detector in games is interesting concept though. I wonder how hard it would be to make that into a WiiWare app and ruin some marriages XD

@Jason

Did you try issuing your questions to him so you could get an answer back in writing? The least the Ninty PR reps could do. Seems a pretty poor effort all up by whoever was running the scheduling.

@InstinctSage on June 12, 2009 12:08 PM

I doubt there will be friction. Given Miyamoto's response, it looks like they picked Team Ninja exactly because they are Team Ninja. I'm more wondering how they'll explain Samus getting less bad-ass in the other games, growing out of the angry teen phase perhaps?

Nintendo has been known for 'second party' development. Pokemon is great example of their best ever Second party development.

Joka

June 12, 2009

05:59 PM

@ 5pam

Ahh Crelm toothpaste and Wizzo butter!

Marttin

June 12, 2009

10:23 PM

Great stuff, Miyamoto (and Nintendo) truly sound revitalised.

I also had a laugh at the inane questions the other journo asked.

You ask Shigeru Miyamoto, of all people, of all topics, about females picking up Wiimotes and DS's....really?

Jolza

June 15, 2009

10:14 AM

Im a little confused by his comment in the last paragraph. He says 'Our strategy is to make gameplay, then show the hardware', yet as he pointed out above regarding the Vitality Sensor, they don't really have any thought yet of how to use it but have created it first assumnig an idea will come down the track. I have far more faith in what Sony and Microsoft are doing, especially after they did a live demonstration of Natal on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Comments Terms & Conditions

When posting comments on our blogs, you agree to be bound by our terms and conditions.
Comments that are offensive, defamatory, unsuitable or that breach any aspects of the terms and conditions will be deleted.

Video games are the new pop. Australians now spend more money on shooters and sims than hip hop and punk rock. Debate the latest news and trends in interactive entertainment with award-winning games writer Jason Hill.